The Breastfeeding Pillow Problem

The problem with breastfeeding pillows is they can either be helpful or very troublesome when trying to achieve a good latch. 

From my experience as a Lactation Consultant, the latter is usually more common.

There are so many different kinds of breastfeeding pillows on the market, that it’s really difficult to know which one is the best fit for you and your baby. Some Mamas have long torsos or short torsos, or big babies or really small babies and it’s not one size fits all! 

The most important thing to remember when purchasing a breastfeeding pillow, is that it should be a little bit soft and squishable in order for you to ‘ push the pillow down ’ where baby’s hips and legs rest. Remember, you always want to ensure your baby’s head and shoulders remain higher than their hips when breastfeeding. A lot of pillows are too thick and stiff making baby lay flat across your chest. This is not the best position for breastfeeding as it often leads to a shallow painful latch. We want our babies to latch asymmetrically-ensuring they capture more of the lower portion of the areola.

Remember….you don’t need to purchase a breastfeeding pillow. A lot of mamas can comfortably use whatever pillows they already have at home. Bed pillows, and throw pillows work really well too!

Another one of my favorite Nourish tips is ‘Push pillow down to ensure bum below crown’. And I often tell my mams to roll a blanket or a towel and put 2 hair ties around the ends like a log roll and use it as an additional wrist support.

The Nourish Promise-’Happy Mamas & Babies Guaranteed’